Travellers want court to block relocation

A NUMBER of travelling families asked the High Court yesterday for an injunction to prevent South Dublin County Council requiring…

A NUMBER of travelling families asked the High Court yesterday for an injunction to prevent South Dublin County Council requiring them to move on to two halting sites in Clondalkin.

They claim the sites are inadequate.

The families also claim they are entitled to be provided at the sites with services.

Ms Aileen Donnelly, counsel for some of the families, referred to temporary halting sites at Bawnogue and Lynch's Lane, Clondalkin. The High Court in July 1995 had held that facilities at Lynch's Lane were inadequate. At Bawnogue, the conditions were worse. The site did not have the facilities required by law.

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Mr Darren Smyth, one of the applicants, in an affidavit, said they had either received or been told they would receive notices requiring them to move to the sites.

Ms Patricia McCarthy, chairwoman of Clondalkin Travellers' Group, in an affidavit, said the Lynch's Lane site did not respect their culture as it sought to accommodate large numbers of families on one site.

The hearing before Miss Justice Laffoy continues today.